MP urges government to list etomidate as dangerous drug

New Straits Times

5 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher has called on the government to list etomidate under the Poisons Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act, following reports of the drug being fatal in Singapore.
Bandar Kuching member of parliament Dr Kelvin Yii said etomidate is an intravenous anaesthetic drug that has been misused as a recreational substance through vape products, often marketed as Kpods.
"This is not just a theory or speculation. We are witnessing the harsh reality where this drug has already claimed lives in our neighbouring country, Singapore.
"If Malaysia does not act swiftly and firmly, we too may face preventable deaths, especially among our youth.
"Etomidate is an intravenous anaesthetic drug, but it has been misused as a recreational substance. It is not safe. There is a risk of sudden death when inhaling etomidate," he said during his debate on the Poisons (Amendment) Bill 2025.
He said users may suffer severe respiratory distress, sudden unconsciousness, injury, and adrenal crisis, which affects the body's ability to produce stress hormones like cortisol for several days.
"This can cause dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure."
Yii said Kpods, which often contain this substance, are heavily marketed to young people.
He added that Singapore has listed etomidate under its Poisons Act and has gone a step further to upgrade its classification to a dangerous drug.
"I believe we should learn from this and not wait until our children are affected or lives are lost.
"I call on the government to classify etomidate as a dangerous drug.
"I believe the Health Ministry, the National Anti-Drugs Agency, and the Home Ministry must ensure that both the Poisons Act and the Dangerous Drugs Act are amended to explicitly regulate etomidate as an illegal substance, with penalties that reflect its serious harm to our children.
"We must also enforce existing vape laws more strictly. This includes increasing inspections and raids against illegal vape distributors and considering stricter controls over vape liquids and devices," he said.
He also urged the government to enhance Malaysia's capabilities in detection and forensic analysis.
He said immediate funding should be allocated to the Chemistry Department, the police forensic unit, and relevant laboratories to acquire specialised equipment such as GC-MS/MS, and to develop validated testing protocols for detecting etomidate in vape liquids and biological samples like urine and blood.
"I also urge the Health Ministry to issue strong warnings and implement aggressive public education campaigns.
"We need a national campaign to ensure that our children understand the dangers of this poison.
"There should also be messaging that Kpods can stop your breathing and kill you instantly. Etomidate is not a toy. These Kpods are not toys. I believe this campaign must continue and be targeted at both parents and children," he said.
Last week, it was reported that Singapore is working to list etomidate as a Class C drug under its Misuse of Drugs Act.
Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung was quoted in a report published by CNA as saying that authorities had randomly tested more than 100 seized vape devices, and one-third were found to contain etomidate.
Ong also noted that there have been deaths including from traffic accidents and unnatural causes in which etomidate was implicated, with investigations still ongoing.